Most agencies we reviewed reported that they did not determine that any specific work conditions (including telework), job categories, or pay or leave categories were at higher risk of time and attendance fraud. However, agency officials told us that this technology does not prevent misconduct, if an employee is intent on circumventing worktime rules.
When federal agencies receive concerns, they can use systems like badge-in and badge-out data, video surveillance, network login information, and government-issued routers to check if misconduct occurred. For example, managers such as first-line supervisors can report if they think an employee is abusing time and attendance requirements. How are time and attendance inconsistencies identified?Īgencies in our review said when employee time and attendance concerns arise, they are usually reported by other employees. (Inspectors general are independent investigators within government agencies.) Data collection largely preceded any contingency operations activated in response to COVID-19 and therefore reflects normal agency operations. We found that-between FY 20-the inspectors general from 19 of the 24 agencies we reviewed had reported only 5 or fewer substantiated allegations of time and attendance misconduct at their agencies. In this report we looked at how 24 large agencies checked that employees were showing up for work (attendance) and working the hours they said they had (time).
In August 2020, we reported that agencies had time and attendance policies, procedures, and controls in place prior to the pandemic. What has been the extent of the federal government’s use of telework during the pandemic? We’ve got ongoing work about this, including about the challenges agencies faced with telework during the pandemic and considerations for the future. But, in the meantime, let’s take a look at how federal agencies check to make sure employees are working when they say they are. In November 2020, we testified before members of Congress about key practices to help ensure the success of agencies’ telework programs-including, among others, providing the technology and training to employees needed to telework successfully. During the pandemic, federal agencies used telework as a strategy to help continue work while office closures and physical distancing measures were in place.
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